Moving means for building blocks



Oct. 31, 1950 A. R. FALKNER 2,527,922

uovmc mums FOR BUILDING BLOCKS Filed March 23, 1948 INVENTOR. 445527- A? FALK/VER.

Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention is an improvement in V 6 Claims. (01. 294-38) block lift ing and moving means for clamping a series of side by side building blocks, either solid or cored. of the genera-l type disclosedin my prior Patent No. 2,369,727.-

The present invention utilizes fluid pressure, as air, for raising and lowering the load, block clamping means actuated by a single lever in operative relation to an opposing abutment, a singlefluid actuated raising and lowering cylinder, means for applying andreleasing pressure thereto and therefrom, and means for actuating the lever, as shall be more particularly described.

In the drawings, showing certain preferred constructions.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the single lever form in holding position with a series of blocks.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line I IIIII of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting frame consists of a pair-of spaced apart structural bars, as angle bars 2, to one end of which is connected in an suitable manner, an operating manipulating frame 3. At one end of bars 2 is connected a rigidly attached downwardly extending clamping shoe 4 adaptedto engage the outermost one of a series of blocks A.

The opposite end of framing 2 is provided with an angular shape lever 5 pivotally mounted between the bars 2, as at 6. The lever 5 depends downwardly'by arm I and is pivotally connected, as by bolt 8, with the double sides 9, of a clamping shoe I0, having a widened face engageable against the opposite endmost block A.

The lever 5 is provided with an inwardly ex- 1 tending arm provided with a cam-like under inclined wedging face |2. Operation of the lever is by outward movement of roller l3 pivotally mounted, as by cross bolt l4, between the sides of a carriage l5.

The carriage is provided with a terminal supporting roller or wheel l6 pivotally mounted, as at IT, and movable along the upper edges of framework 2, as a track.

.The actuating element for carriage l5 is a piston or plunger l8 on the inner end of rod I9 retracted by spring 20, within an operating cylinder 2|. The cylinder 2| is firmly connected with the framing 2 in any suitable manner, as by lower extensions 22, thus providing lifting and lowering connection with air cylinder 23.

The cylinder 23 is connected with the cylinder 2| ,by cross pin or bolt, 24, and interfitting flange 25 and cylinder extensions 26.

A pressure line 21 leads from a compressor or pump, not shown, for supply and'exhaust to and from cylinder 2|, andalso to the upper portion of lifting cylinder 23, by branch pipe 28.

.A rigid rod 29 depends from any suitable upper support, as a crane, for lateral swinging, and

is provided with a piston or plunger 30. Pressure from supply line 21 to the cylinder 23, or exhaust therefrom, is controlled by a three way valve3| controlled by suitable means, as a lever 32 and operating connection 33, leading to the operating extension 3. By such means the entire frame 2- and its parts may be raised and 1o'wered,'for transporting the load of blocks A.

Likewise, with valve 3| closed, a similar three way valve 34 in pressure pipe 27, having lever 35 and similar connection 36, controls pressure to and exhaust from cylinder 2|.

As thus equipped, the frame 2, with lever 5 in receded position, is lowered into embracing position' as in Fig. '1, and with valve 3| closed, and application of pressure on piston |8 by opening valve 34, carriage l5 and roller l3 are advanced, resulting in bringing clamping pressure between shoes l0 and 4.

With valve 34 closed, lifting pressure is applied to cylinder 23, when the load ma then be elevated and swung to the delivery station, and the blocks released by spring retraction of plunger [8 and lowering gravitation of arm followed by outward releasing movement of shoe l0.

This application is a division of my prior application Ser. No. 734,927, filed March 15, 1947.

What I claim is:

1. Block clamping and moving means comprising a frame having at one end a holding shoe, and at the other end a lever provided with a clamping shoe and an inner cam faced terminal,

' a 1ifting andlowering cylinder and means connesting it with the frame, an outwardly and inwardly movable carriag having a roller engaging the cam face of said lever, and a motor for the carriage incorporated with the 'means connecting the cylinder and frame.

2. Block clamping and moving means icomprising a frame having at one end a holding shoe, and at the other end a lever provided with a. clamping shoe and an inner cam faced terminal, an outwardly and inwardly movable carriage having a roller engaging the cam face of the lever, a lifting and lowering cylinder, 2. member connecting the cylinder and frame, and means for moving the carriage and roller in opposite directions consisting of a motor incorporated with and forming a part of said member.

3. Block clamping and moving means compris ing a frame having at one end a holding shoe, and at the other end a lever provided with a clamping shoe and an inner cam faced terminal, an outwardly and inwardly movable carriage having a roller engaging the cam face of the lever. a lifting and lowering cylinder, a member connecting the cylinder and frame, and a cylinder and piston for actuating the carriage incorporated with and forming portions of said member.

4. In combination with a supporting frame having a terminal abutment and an opposing lever having a. clamping shoe and an inclined face, a lifting and lowering cylinder for the frame, a member connecting the cylinder-and frame, a cylinder integral with said member provided with a piston, a roller engageable with the inclined face of the lever actuated by the piston, and means for supplying pressure to and exhaust from the cylinder of said connecting member.

5. In block clamping and moving means, the

combination with a main frame having a fixed clamping shoe at one end of the'frame, of a cooperating opposing lever provided with a clamping shoe and a cam face, means for actuating said lever consisting of a reversely movable clamping and releasing carriage having a camengaging roller, a lifting and lowering cylinder,

a member connecting the cylinder and frame, a fluid actuated motor forming a, portion of said member, a supporting rod having a piston engaging the lifting and lowering cylinder, and means for introducing fluid pressure between the piston and the upper end of the cylinder, and for releasing the same.

6. In block clamping and moving means, a supporting frame, a raising and lowering cylinder for the frame connected therewith by a pivoted member, a fixedly connected shoe member at one end of the frame, an L shaped lever pivotally connected to the opposite end of the frame having a lower clamping shoe and an upper cam faced terminal, said connecting member between the cylinder and frame including a motor and a roller-provided carriage, and adapted to extend and withdraw the roller carriage for actuating the L shape lever in imparting alternate movements thereto.

' ALBERT R. FALKNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 729,939 Jones June 2, 1903 1,259,036 Mitchell Mar. 12, 1918 1,490,235 Smith et al Apr. 15, 1924 

